Judge Invalidates San Francisco Prop N Initiative

SAN FRANCISCO - MAY 12: Steven Brown sleeps in the park May 12, 2003 in San Francisco, California. Last week, Superior Court Judge Ronald Quidachay invalidated Proposition N, the "Care Not Cash" ballot initiative approved in November which would have cut most cash payments to homeless individuals from a state high of $396 to as little as $59 a month, with the savings being used to pay for housing and social services. Judge Quidachay invalidated the initiative, writing that California law gives the city Board of Supervisors, who had previously rejected proposals nearly identical to those included in Proposition N, "exclusive authority" to set policy for the state-mandated program. Therefor, the judge wrote, the topic is "beyond the reach of initiative and referendum." (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)